But... this was FIBA, not the NBA.
This generation of Argentinian players had grown up together and had perfect chemistry. Moreover, their tactics were incredibly smooth, and the entire team played as one.
In contrast, Larry Brown was far too stubborn. His tactics were rigid and outdated. Many experts in the United States had long been criticizing Larry Brown for his inflexibility, claiming he’d been left behind by the tis.
However, his authority on the team remained absolute. As the assistant coach, Popovich had no say in the matter.
And so, step by step, the Dream Six Team marched toward its decline. Argentina kept them on the ropes, playing with more and more vigor as the ga went on.
In the end, they beat the Dream Team by 15 points.
The basketball Dream Team had beco the basketball Nightmare Team.
They had fallen short, not even making it to the finals.
The ESPN comntators were furious on television, declaring it the darkest day in Arican basketball. They cursed out Larry Brown, cursed out Iverson, cursed out Duncan, cursed out Odom, cursed out Marion...
They themselves said the team was complete garbage.
This was the polar opposite of their previous expectations.
They had co with the intention of teaching Su Xi a lesson, avenging their previous sha, and taking ho the gold dal.
But now, they hadn’t even gotten a chance to face Su Xi. Their only chance to play the Chinese Team and compete for a bronze dal was if China lost to Italy. But what if the Chinese Team won?
Then the Dream Team would have reached a whole new level of sha, an utter and complete disgrace.
As for avenging their sha, forget about it. The Dream Six Team was even more disgraceful than the Dream Five Team.
This team should have its Dream Team mbership revoked.
...
「Three hours later.」
The Dream Six Team’s last glimr of hope was shattered. The Chinese Team gave Italy no chance, defeating them with ease. Although Italy had held a 3-point lead in the first quarter, once the Chinese Team turned up the heat in the second, the Italians were powerless to resist.
The Chinese Team defeated Italy 101-81, making a historic advance into the finals.
They would now face Argentina in the battle for this year’s Olympic gold dal.
It quickly beca the most glorious mont for China’s Olympic delegation this year. Sports fans all over the country were discussing this historic breakthrough. Although Liu Xiang’s gold dal breakthrough in track and field was also stunning, the popular appeal of track and field still paled in comparison to basketball’s.
During this ti, Su Xi dominated the front pages of all sports dia, his na chanted repeatedly. In every street and alley, from the old to the young, n and won alike, everyone was talking about Su Xi. Nas like "Little Sheep Su Xi," "God of Basketball," and "The Greatest in History" were heard everywhere.
With the dia’s wall-to-wall coverage, Su Xi’s fa reached a national level... no, it was even higher than that. Even elderly won in the countryside who cared nothing for basketball knew that China had produced a God of Basketball nad Su Xi, who had led the Chinese Team to the Olympic finals.
The Chinese reverence for the title of ’God’ is nothing like in the United States, where it’s thrown around casually. Nor is it like in Japan, where soone can make a bit of sushi and be called a ’God of Sushi.’
In China, a ’God’ is soone worshipped from the bottom of one’s heart, soone worthy of incense and offerings. Without great achievents, without legendary tales of ’divine power’ passed down by word of mouth, who would believe you? Who would take you seriously?
Huang Xiaoman was astounded. She had originally guessed that Su Xi would gain more popularity and national support through this national team journey. After all, no matter how well you play in the NBA, it isn’t seen as a contribution to your country.
But now that Su Xi had led the Chinese Team to the finals, the significance was completely different.
"The entire nation is watching this final. Everyone’s expectations for you are incredibly high. If you win, you will truly beco the number one celebrity in the country, the Pride of China, the God of Asia."
Huang Xiaoman was monitoring public opinion. She told Su Xi, "This ga has beco a match to unite the nation’s confidence. You absolutely cannot lose."
Huang Xiaoman was very serious.
The soaring public opinion and the growing number of non-fans involved made rational analysis of the situation impossible.
Everyone had such high hopes; what they wanted was a win, what they demanded was the gold dal. No compromises would be accepted.
If they only won the silver dal, even though it would already break the historical record for the Chinese n’s Basketball Team and could be called a great success...
...the passion ignited by public opinion had already ford a state of ’collective unconscious’ euphoria.
It was a scene of dazzling prosperity, but also one of explosive volatility.
It wasn’t just Su Xi who felt this pressure; Yao Ming sensed it too. His agent was also talking to him about the situation back ho. The general public now saw the n’s basketball team as a sure bet for gold. Society was filled with a sense that it was a ’done deal’—after all, Su Xi was the ’God of Basketball.’
’He’s a foreigner who can beat all those strong black players in the United States and win a championship, so why can’t he do it at the Olympics? Hasn’t the United States already been defeated? Argentina should be a piece of cake!’
Public opinion is sotis a double-edged sword.
When more and more ordinary people who don’t understand basketball join the conversation, it becos difficult to analyze things from a professional perspective.
The team leader of the n’s basketball team also held a special eting with the players to convey the wishes of the leadership.
The leaders encouraged everyone to keep up the good work and strive for new heights. Most importantly, they hoped the n’s basketball team could live up to the people’s expectations and win the championship.
China was currently in a period of major economic developnt, and the n’s basketball team had beco a ’flashpoint’ at this ti, a way to galvanize the national fighting spirit. Everyone hoped to use this flashpoint to ignite an even greater surge of national confidence.
In tis of peace, sports are the easiest way to build consensus and create miracles.
The players all felt the heavy weight of this trust, and the pressure on each of them suddenly skyrocketed.
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